Search

You are here

Blog Posts: us policy

Hard economic times have prompted West Virginia to look toward a future that depends less on coal and more on renewable energy, a higher-technology job market and even a price on climate-warming carbon dioxide.

While coal miners have been the backbone of West Virginia's economy for decades, the industry is declining. New WRI research shows that a carbon price could provide billions of dollars a year for coal communities in West Virginia and other states, while also curbing air pollution and climate change.

A new U.S.-Canada joint will cut methane emissions from oil and gas systems by 40-45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025. It's a big step toward meeting both countries' climate goals—methane is a greenhouse gas 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

In the 18 debates held so far, moderators have asked about everything from Super Bowl picks to flower arrangements, while posing only a handful of questions on climate. This week's debates in Florida—ground zero for climate change in the United States—are the perfect opportunity to change that.

EPA is continuing to provide states with the tools and support to reduce their power sector emissions, and many states and utilities have said they will continue their plans to comply with the Clean Power Plan despite the recent stay.

New research finds that sea levels increased at a faster rate this past century than any other in nearly 3,000 years. While this is old news to the local elected officials on the front lines of coastal flooding in the United States, the findings will hopefully inspire much-needed action at the federal level.

Yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling to pause implementation of the Clean Power Plan will likely only be a temporary time out. Most states are already laying plans to comply—and indeed, it's in their best interest to do so.

The landmark Paris Agreement on climate change came under tough scrutiny from members of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, but Dr. Andrew Steer said a clean energy economy would "create hundreds of thousands of more jobs, increase GDP and save families money on energy bills."